Rainbow Senior Center expands nutrition program from new digs

But agency's costs are rising along with participation.

Published 12:00 am, Thursday, November 18, 2010

BOERNE — Since occupying its spacious new quarters known as Kronkosky Place last spring, the Rainbow Senior Center has seen participation jump in its expanded array of programs.

“Over 300 new people have joined since we moved in March, pushing our active membership to about 1,300,” said Ellen Damstra, director of the nonprofit organization that began as a nutrition program of local congregations in the 1980s.

It is one of many area nonprofit groups the San Antonio Express-News is profiling in its annual Grace of Giving series, which runs daily until Christmas.

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The new facility at 17 Old San Antonio Road includes computer labs, a dance room, meeting areas and a fitness center.

“I can't even describe how much more wonderful it is, in every way,” said Lottie Langehennig, 82.

Marje Ramsey, 73, echoed that view while riding a stationary bike, saying, “It's fabulous. It's just got so much more to offer.”

Good food remains a major draw for about 150 seniors daily who pack the cafeteria, where lunch is available for a suggested donation of $3.

“It's nice to have a hot meal that you don't have to cook,” said Nancy Connett, 69, a patron since 2005.

About 75 other seniors have hot meals delivered each day by some of the roughly 100 volunteers on whom Damstra's paid staff of 10 relies.

“If they didn't get these meals delivered, it would really be a hardship for them,” said Irma Rios, director of the Comfort Golden Age Center, which feeds dozens of seniors with the Boerne center's help. “Many of them wouldn't have enough to eat.”

Comfort resident Helen Barham, 92, has relied on the meal deliveries since a stroke several years ago left her in a wheelchair, unable to cook except with a microwave.

Damstra said many of her clients are unable to afford to pay for food they receive from the center. “The economic crisis has really impacted seniors,” she said. “Sometimes, they have to choose between buying food or getting prescription drugs.”

The Meals on Wheels clients, many of whom are homebound or isolated, need the social interaction as much as the calories.

“They're very, very appreciative,” said Hal Weakly, 86, a volunteer who's been delivering meals for about 18 months.

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Despite knowing that engaging folks in conversation will likely put him behind schedule, he doesn't just drop the food off and leave.

“They all want to visit,” said Weakly, who often sticks around to empty clients' trash, help with mail and remind them to take their medications.

In the fiscal year that ended Oct. 1, Damstra said, nearly 1,300 seniors participated in the center's nutrition programs, a 35 percent jump over the year before.

The center's current annual budget is $670,000, most coming from private sources, chiefly the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation, the reason for the new building's name. Some 25 percent comes from government sources. Operational costs rose when the center's 7,000-square-foot facility was replaced by the $8.2 million center, which is four times larger.

New programs add social interaction to the original mission of keeping seniors fed. New members pay a processing fee, but there are no ongoing fees except to use the fitness center or computer lab.

“We never turn anybody away because of their inability to pay,” Damstra said.